It never fails. Living in the city and taking public transportation to work inevitably leads to overhearing other people’s phone calls. Cell phones are so prevalent that I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t have one, which means most people can get phone calls almost anywhere, at any time. Since personalization is a way of life for most Americans, many of my fellow commuters have one or more ringtones to alert them when someone is calling. Today’s phones can play a different tone for each incoming number, and many cell phone users change their ringtones on a regular basis to reflect different holiday seasons.

My absolute favorite holiday has always been Halloween, which is why I always enjoy hearing the wide variety of Halloween ringtones that usually pop up around this time of year. Nothing seems to put me in the mood for another year of frightful flicks, monster movie marathons, haunted houses and taking the kids trick or treating quite like the sounds of the season. I often hear ringtones from famous horror movies, such as the staccato violin played during the shower scene in Psycho to the mounting terror of John Williams’ Jaws theme. These seem to resonate well with most people, and often get a laugh if not a glance. I enjoy them because they remind me of just how much fun it can be to enjoy a movie that scares you and puts you on the edge of your seat.

There are also plenty of ringtones that reflect popular themes of the Halloween season, from howling wolves to creaking footsteps and blood curdling screams. I have heard a Bela Lugosi like Dracula voice, coffins closing, creaky doors opening, evil sounding chants and many, many others. These always get recognition from anyone who happens to be within earshot, at least in the form of a smile.

So, once again, I will get on the bus five days a week and see what new Halloween ringtones I hear this year. Every year seems to bring a new crop of interesting sounds. Who knows, maybe I’ll download a few myself and scare up a little fun.